The international surgical journal with global reach

This is the Scientific Surgery Archive, which contains all randomized clinical trials in surgery that have been identified by searching the top 50 English language medical journal issues since January 1998. Compiled by Jonothan J. Earnshaw, former Editor-in-Chief, BJS

Prophylactic antibiotics reduce pancreatic necrosis in acute necrotizing pancreatitis: a meta-analysis of randomized trials. Digest Surg 2010; 27: 442–449.

Published: 4th May 2011

Authors: Yao L, Huang X, Shi R, Zhang G.

Conclusion

The nine trials analysed included 564 patients. Antibiotics did not affect the mortality rate (P=0.1), or the need for surgical intervention (P=0.17), but they did reduce the rate of infected pancreatic necrosis: relative risk 0.73, 95 per cent confidence interval 0.54 to 0.98, P=0.04.

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